Huang Zu

Historical Record

(No biographical material in the histories.)

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Huang Zu is portrayed as an important general under Liu Biao, taking part on many occasions in campaigns against the Sun clan. He first appears when Sun Jian, seeking to avenge the blocking of his road, raised an army to attack Liu Biao. Liu Biao adopted Kuai Liang's plan and ordered Huang Zu to lead the troops of Jiangxia as the vanguard to meet the enemy ^c:6909. In the ensuing battle, Huang Zu clashed with Sun Jian, ultimately leading to Sun Jian's death in an ambush. Huang Zu himself, however, was captured by Sun Jian's subordinates. Liu Biao, mindful of his "intimate friendship" with Huang Zu and ignoring Kuai Liang's advice to abandon Huang Zu in order to seize Jiangdong, finally exchanged Sun Jian's body to recover Huang Zu ^c:4463.

Thereafter Huang Zu continued to guard a region for Liu Biao. After Cao Cao defeated Zhang Xiu, Jia Xu advised Zhang Xiu to write to Liu Biao, hoping Liu Biao would intercept Cao Cao. Liu Biao at first wished to send out troops, but scouts reported that Sun Ce had stationed his forces at Hukou. Kuai Liang again offered a plan, holding that Sun Ce's troop placement was a ruse of Cao Cao's, and advising Liu Biao to strike while he could. Liu Biao therefore ordered Huang Zu to hold the pass firmly, while he himself led his troops to intercept Cao Cao's rear ^c:6910.

Huang Zu's character is depicted in the novel as hot-tempered and quick to anger, and as ill-disposed toward worthy men. When Mi Heng came to Jing Province and, though full of mockery toward Liu Biao, Liu Biao, wary of Cao Cao's intent to kill by a borrowed knife, sent him off to Jiangxia to see Huang Zu ^c:6911. Huang Zu indeed flew into a rage at Mi Heng's slighting words and finally had him killed. This affair further highlighted Huang Zu's recklessness and lack of foresight.

The feud between Huang Zu and the Sun clan ran throughout. In the eighth year of Jian'an, Sun Quan again led troops to attack Huang Zu, and the two sides fought fiercely upon the great river. Huang Zu's army was defeated, and his subordinate Gan Ning shot dead Sun Quan's subordinate Ling Cao ^c:6912. In the end, Sun Quan attacked Xiakou once more; Huang Zu's troops were routed and his generals slain, and knowing he was no match, he abandoned Jiangxia and sought to flee to Jing Province. Gan Ning, however, had long anticipated that Huang Zu would flee and set an ambush outside the East Gate. Huang Zu was blocked by Gan Ning in his flight, and Gan Ning rebuked Huang Zu for having once treated him as a "river-pirate" ^c:15913, finally beheading Huang Zu, avenging Ling Cao and settling an old grudge for the Sun clan.

Key Relationships

* Liu Biao's faction (serves): Huang Zu was an important general under Liu Biao, long guarding Jiangxia and defending Liu Biao against the Sun clan's attacks. He was repeatedly ordered into battle and played an important military role in Liu Biao's faction ^c:6909.
* Liu Biao (friend_of): There was a deep personal friendship between Liu Biao and Huang Zu, Liu Biao even calling Huang Zu an "intimate friend." After Huang Zu was captured by Sun Jian's subordinates, Liu Biao did not hesitate to exchange Sun Jian's body for Huang Zu, showing how highly he valued him ^c:4463.
* Mi Heng (enemy_of): The relationship between Huang Zu and Mi Heng was hostile. Mi Heng, with his arrogant and unrestrained nature, spoke with much insolence when he met Huang Zu, finally enraging Huang Zu, who had him killed. This was not only an expression of Huang Zu's hot temper but also a footnote to his being "unworthy" ^c:6911.
* Sun Jian / Sun Quan (enemy_of): Huang Zu bore an irreconcilable hatred with the Sun clan. He took part in the battle that led to Sun Jian's death and long served as Liu Biao's shield against the Sun clan's attacks. In the end he too was killed by Gan Ning in battle with Sun Quan, bringing his long feud with the Sun clan to a close ^c:15913.
* Gan Ning (enemy_of): Gan Ning had once been Huang Zu's subordinate, but because Huang Zu treated him unfairly, regarding him as a "river-pirate" ^c:15913, Gan Ning finally went over to Sun Quan. Huang Zu's such treatment ultimately led to Gan Ning's defection and to his own death at Gan Ning's hands—a relationship of karmic retribution.

Signature Scenes

* Exchanging a corpse for a general: After Sun Jian was shot dead by Huang Zu's subordinate, Huang Zu himself was captured. Liu Biao, ignoring Kuai Liang's dissuasion, insisted on exchanging Sun Jian's body to recover Huang Zu, calling Huang Zu an "intimate friend." This scene not only displayed Liu Biao's deep affection for Huang Zu but also foreshadowed Huang Zu's later fate ^c:4463. (unique to the novel)
* Killing Mi Heng in anger: Mi Heng was sent by Liu Biao to Jiangxia to see Huang Zu, and because of his slighting words enraged Huang Zu. Huang Zu, ignoring dissuasion, ordered Mi Heng beheaded. This affair fully displayed Huang Zu's hot-tempered, intolerant nature and brought upon him the infamy of "harming the worthy" ^c:6911. (unique to the novel)
* The Battle of Xiakou and being beheaded by Gan Ning: Huang Zu was defeated in the Battle of Xiakou and abandoned the city in flight. In his flight he was blocked by an ambush set by his former subordinate Gan Ning. Gan Ning rebuked Huang Zu for his past unfairness toward him and finally beheaded Huang Zu. This scene is Huang Zu's end in the novel, the conclusion of his long feud with the Sun clan, and an expression of his karmic retribution ^c:15913. (unique to the novel)